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About this quote

What does it mean?
Hardships awaken us from life's illusions and reveal the world's insufficiency, driving us toward freedom.
In plain terms
Hard times wake us up and make us want to escape to find freedom.
What can you take from it?
Suffering can motivate the search for freedom.

Where it applies

  • personal crisis
  • spiritual growth
  • loss

Putting it to work

  • resilience building
  • meaning making

Questions to consider

  • What hardships woke you up?
  • How do you seek freedom?

Another view

Not all suffering leads to growth; some causes lasting damage.

More from Swami Vivekananda

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  2. Both the forces of good and evil will keep the universe alive for us, until we awake from our dreams and give up this building of mud pies.

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  3. Be a hero. Always say, 'I have no fear.' Tell this to everyone-'Have no fear.'

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